Mosul, IRAQ – Another tragic killing of Christians in Mosul today. Al Qaeda militants gunned down Chaldean Jalal Moussa, 38, and three other Chaldeans in front of their homes in the neighborhood of Noor. Islamic militants have been terrorizing the city with shouts and nailing posters urging attacks against Christians, threatening more slaughter and violence and urging U.S. military to leave.

Little has been covered by world media as major news outlets refuse to cover the ongoing Christian attacks. In less than seven days, nine Christians have been murdered because of their faith. Asia News reveals an organized campaign is underway to drive Christians out of the region. The news reports a car with a loudspeaker went around the streets in the neighborhood of Sukkar, ordering the Christians to leave." "Christians out of the city," the people on board were shouting, "otherwise you will be victims of more attacks."

Iraqi Christians have come under the brutal attacks of Islamic militants with little or any protection from the Iraqi government. Many are saying the attacks are an attempt to drive Christians out of the country or herded into abysmal lands where they can be easily targeted. Recent exclusion from having representation in the upcoming election is reinforcing the sentiment that the indigenous people of Iraq are being stripped and killed.

Asisa News reports that the Christians murdered ere owners of stores and commercial activities in Mosul, a clear signal that the terrorists intend to wipe out the economic activity of Christians, forcing the population to leave. According to some witnesses, before shooting the terrorists accused the Christians of "wanting to create an enclave in Nineveh," and then proceeded with the execution in cold blood.

U.S. General Mark Hertling, commander of US troops in northern Iraq says “"Al Qaeda is trying to get a foothold in Iraq and Mosul is the base of operations that they have chosen for launching their attacks," with the infiltration of foreign militants from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Yemen, and Pakistan, through the Syrian border.

The herding of Christians into a small village is strongly opposed by the Chaldean Church. The church fears the coerced placement of Iraqi Christians will result into systematic discrimination and attacks. Archbishop Lous Sako of Kirkuk described in 2007 that dividing the people of Iraq would create more violence and further hatred. For Christians the areas would be transformed into a sort of ghetto for shutting up refugees fleeing from Baghdad, Mosul, Kirkuk, and Basra. The danger is that the area would fast become a lawless ghetto whereby criminals would attack Christians with impunity and no fear of the law arresting them.

Archbishop Sako says the area would be "a breeding ground for revolts, clashes, and social tensions, as is taking place today in Palestine." For this reason, the Church has always promoted "coexistence under the banner of peace and mutual respect," among populations that are "rooted by history and tradition in the Iraqi homeland."

Violence in Mosul in recent weeks has driven an increasing number of people to leave the city. According to estimates by local Christians, "every week more than 20 families decide to flee." This exodus has "emptied entire neighborhoods" of Christians, "to the indifference of the media and of Western governments."

On Monday, October 6, Ziad Kamal, a disabled 25-year-old shopkeeper in the city, was shot to death. The young man's store was in the neighborhood of Karam. Before him, armed groups assassinated Hazim Thomaso Youssif, age 40. The ambush took place in front of his clothing store in Bab Sarray. On the same day, 15-year-old Ivan Nuwya, also a Christian, was killed. The young man was shot to death in front of his home in the neighborhood of Tahrir, in front of the local mosque of Alzhara.

The Christian community lives in panic as the slaughter continues "to the indifference" of the media, which "do not even report the crimes that are committed."

Rev. Jacob Yasso was born in the village of Telkaif, Iraq. After completing high school he was recruited to Rome and Urbaniana University where he completed his Masters Degree in philosophy and Theology. Fr. Yasso was ordained a priest in 1960 and served the Diocese of Mosul, where he worked in the public school system. Fr. Yasso was also asked by the Patriarch to teach at the Patriarchal Seminary in Baghdad, where he served as administrator, professor of philosophy and religious life, and rector of the minor seminary.

In 1964, Fr. Yasso was appointed to the United States to serve the growing Chaldean community in Detroit. There he served as the 4th Pastor of Mother of God Parish. . In 1972, the Patriarch charged Fr. Yasso with building a new parish for the Chaldeans in Detroit. In taking great pains to care for the community Fr. Yasso accelerated the development of a new church and community center. In 1975, Fr. Yasso completed the development of Sacred Heart Parish in Detroit and shortly thereafter he added the Chaldean Center of America in 1980,

A few years later in 1982, Fr. Yasso was asked to assist the late Fr. Kattoula at St. Peter’s Church in San Diego, CA. Before long, Fr. Yasso was once again recruited to Rome to study new Canon Law of the Church. While in Rome Fr. Yasso completed his third Masters Degree in Church Law, making him the only Chaldean priest trained in Canon Law.

In 1988, the Patriarch and Vatican authorities asked Fr. Yasso to travel to Canada and establish a parish and community center. While there he served as a Tribunal Judge for the Archdiocese of Toronto. Four years later Fr. Yasso returned to Sacred Heart church in Detroit to help care for the remaining Chaldean community residence in the Detroit area. To this day, Fr. Yasso continues to serve as the parish pastor creating activities and advising the City of Detroit on community related matters.

Fr. Yasso is a member of the International WYCLIF Bible translators, since 1975, and has completed the translation of the New Testament from Greek and Aramaic into Arabic and spoken Chaldean. The publication of his scholarly work is set to be released soon.